Man gets 11 years for role in failed murder scheme

Thursday

Aug 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2013 at 8:10 AM

A 27-year-old South Side man was sentenced to 11 years in prison yesterday for acting as a middleman in a failed murder-for-hire plot. Brad A. Fickenworth of Obetz Road was convicted in June of conspiracy to commit murder for paying a man $3,500 to kill a friend's ex-wife. The plot was foiled when the man contacted police.

John Futty, The Columbus Dispatch

A 27-year-old South Side man was sentenced to 11 years in prison yesterday for acting as a middleman in a failed murder-for-hire plot.

Brad A. Fickenworth of Obetz Road was convicted in June of conspiracy to commit murder for paying a man $3,500 to kill a friend's ex-wife. The plot was foiled when the man contacted police.

Although the murder wasn't carried out, "it was not for any lack of effort on your part," the judge told Fickenworth.

Evidence showed that Fickenworth was trying to help Daniel W. Lytle hire a hit man to kill Lytle's ex-wife, Tammy L. Lytle, in December. Their 18-year marriage ended in a dissolution in November.

Fickenworth apologized in court to the intended victim but repeated the defense he used at trial - that he agreed only to help arrange the theft of Tammy Lytle's car, not her death.

"The court felt that was hogwash at the time, and the court finds that it is hogwash now," Sheeran said.

Tammy Lytle attended the hearing but chose not to speak. A victim's advocate read a brief statement on her behalf in which she asked for the maximum sentence.

Assistant Prosecutor Laurie Arsenault also requested the maximum. She said Fickenworth's intentions were clear in an "absolutely chilling" telephone conversation, secretly recorded by police, in which he told the intended hit man, "Just walk up and slit the bitch's throat."

Daniel W. Lytle, 60, was convicted in July of conspiracy to commit murder and related crimes and could be sentenced to 36 years in prison. He also was to be sentenced by Sheeran yesterday, but the hearing was rescheduled for Sept. 12 after his attorneys withdrew from the case.

Bryan Bowen and Heather Keck told the judge they could no longer represent Lytle after learning that he had made allegations of misconduct against them. Keck said she didn't want to reveal the nature of the allegations.

Sheeran agreed to appoint Javier Armengau, who was hired to file Lytle's appeal, to represent him at the sentencing.